Thursday’s weather had most of the shops closed around Cape Cod, but the news from earlier in the week was that the ice bite was on.
Cape Cod fishermen have been waiting a couple years to hit the ice, and were delighted to find 5 to 6 inches on many waters in the early days of 2018. The rush to hit the ice resulted in a live bait shortage at many Upper Cape shops by Wednesday.
The fishermen who had bait experienced some incredible fishing, with the approaching storm and slight warm up sending bass, pickerel, and panfish into a feeding frenzy Wednesday morning.
While Thursday’s rain may soften up the edges of the ponds, arctic air coming on Saturday (low of -2!) will lock everything up tight once again.
The outlook for ice fishing is excellent. Ice-building weather returns on Friday, and temperatures in the 30s starting Monday will make for ideal ice-fishing conditions—as long as the shops restock on shiners.
But even if they don’t, using small jigs for perch and bluegills is great, and more active way to ice fish. And the bonus largemouth or pickerel on the jig rod definitely keeps things interesting. Many trout ponds are also sporting a solid layer of ice, and while the biggest browns will always fall to shiners, rainbows and brookies will happily take a swipe at jigs.
The holdover striper outlook is less promising. Already, fishermen have reported fish-kills at popular holdover locations, a result of the plummeting water temperatures and helped by the extreme tides with this week’s full moon.
Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod
With a high of 9 degrees on Saturday, you’re probably better off hanging in with a copy of the January 2018 Issue of On The Water Magazine. Do some reading, get your ice gear ready, if you haven’t yet, and hit the ice Sunday (high of 18) or next week when temperatures will flirt with 40 degrees.
Just about any ponds are fair game right now, but the smaller ponds will have the thickest ice. Getting shiners may be problematic this weekend, unless the shops get a shipment on Friday, which is all the more reason to ride out the extreme cold, and use a sick day next week.
It looks like the Cape is in for a long ice fishing season, so if you were on team “mild winter” like me, hoping for open water right through, it may be time to break down and buy some gear. I just ordered my first ice-fishing jigging rod on Wednesday—if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
Hi guys probly not the right place for this .but a few of us are looking to go ice fishing upper cape or south shore .we are avid fishermen but have never ice fished but would love to get a start at it .and would love if someone had a recommendation for a guide that would help us out for a trip or two .
Thanks Mike
I’ve never heard of any local ice fishing guides. An easy way to start is to go out later in the day after a few old holes are abandoned and jig a small castmaster or any spoon you might have for trout. You’re going to catch a few fish and you might see other people fishing that will point you in the right direction. Your local bait shop can also be helpful.
Mike
I can guide you on the ice. There is a fair amount of learning that is truly best accomplished in a hands on fashion Feel free to give me a call 781.910.0747
I moved to the cape from VT 2 years ago and I love to fish for and eat big perch , I miss jigging up a pail and bringing them to the table but I don’t know where to go I would appreciate any suggestions thanks
Be careful about what you eat.
Peters pond has good perch fishing with the bonus of trout good luck
There’s yellow perch everywhere on upper cape. Hard to get away from them. Coonamessett Pond has white and yellow, and some pretty chinky largemouth/smallmouth bass. Also pickerel which are fun to catch.